Update [2007-7-24 15:30:37 by Eric Hz]: Buster Olney reports "Executives with other teams believe that the Texas Rangers are definitely intent on trading first baseman Mark Teixeira before the July 31 trade deadline."
The respective papers of the Angels, Rangers and Braves have offered specifics in terms of the players needed to acquire Rangers' 1B Mark Teixeira. The LA Times reports that the parameters of a deal were in place prior to the implosion of Angels' pitcher Ervin Santana. The offer centered on 1B Casey Kotchman and Santana. That would be a good deal although I wonder if the second consecutive July where the Angels are trying to peddle Santana signals something nefarious. (Tejeda for Aybar/Santana last July.) While the LAT doubts Joe Saunders would be an acceptable alternative, I do not.The Dallas Morning News makes a suggestion to help get the young first basemen the Rangers need - add a reliever to Teixeira to get things moving.
The usual suspects brought-up are the Dodgers' James Loney and the Braves Jarrod Saltalamacchia, but the noteworthy player, Casey Kotchman, is where I see the connection between the two papers. Kotchman/Saunders for Teixeira seems to be more than enough.
The Saltalamacchia mentions segues nicely into this morning's Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that
"Reinforcements at first base" plus relief help fit perfectly with the DMN suggestion of 1B Mark Teixeira and a reliever, doesn't it? Saltalamacchia plus a Kyle Davies and a decent prospect would be another very good offer.